Not the Newsletter I Wanted to Send This Week
Taking a moment to sit with these feelings.
This isn’t the newsletter that was supposed to be coming out today. But this isn’t the reality for our country I was hoping for either. It would have felt disingenuous to send my regularly scheduled programming. Instead, I’m writing to you from my bed after canceling my writing workshop for today. Sure, many people would have told themselves to keep up the fight. That the only thing we can do is write and share our voices. And that is true. But today is for mourning. And walking. And seeing art. And calling your loved ones. And dreaming of another day.
I couldn’t bear to ask my students to hold their hearts in their hands once again. I couldn’t dare to ask them to dig into the darkness and the muck any more than they already have. There will be time for that. There is always tomorrow. I’m sure a lot of people will have a lot to say. But I’d just like to sit with the uncertainty for a while. Sit with the pain. Sit with the “what now?” feeling. For now, I have no words, so I’ll let the great poet Maggie Smith lend us some. I’m still not sure how to share with Clementine what happened on election night and since she’s only four-years-old I have the privilege, like Maggie says, of keeping the truth from her, for now. But I also know that I want to make this place beautiful for her (and all of us). And help her (and all of us) to see the beauty in it.
I know there will come a time when I’ll be ready to share my words with the world again.
I know there will come a time when I’ll be ready to believe in humanity.
I know there will come a time when the world will feel safe again.
But that day isn’t today.
In community,
Ruthie
Ruthie’s Recommendations (for when you can’t face the world)…
When life feels out of control, get your life in order.
Make someone else feel good.
Sometimes a plant says it all.
Self-care is cozy pajamas.
Keep some artificial glow on hand.
Nothing says I love you like ice cream delivered to your door.
Give your future self the gift of finally writing your book.
Will you be writing your book in 2025? (Application deadline 11/15!)
One-on-One! If you don’t see a group workshop that’s the right fit, or you just want some solo advice, I encourage you to inquire about one-on-one coaching with me. Email me ruackerman@gmail.com to learn more.
